Chapter 1

The Outer Amicus Cluster, Near the Galactic rim.

Taskforce Resolution arrived in system to find a grand fleet of Dark Angel ships assembled.  Several other Strike cruisers, destroyers and other escorts swung is easy orbits near a massive white Battle Barge near the third planet.  Hails were exchanged between many commanders.  The hunters of the Dark Angels had gathered for a war counsel.

Gabriel, Grandmaster of the Deathwing, stepped off of his Thunderhawk onto the flight deck of the Praetorian of Caliban.  Master Alacanon and the assembled Marines of Taskforce Resolution met the revered leader of the first company with respectful silence.  Gabriel stood for a moment looking over the Battle Brothers, then spoke, “Brothers, you have done well.  The information from the shuttle you recovered has given us insight into our missions here.  I ask you once again to take up your arms and do the will of the Emperor.  Let no Xenos or traitors you find live.  Purge all who oppose you.  We must continue our great crusade and pursue these Chaos spawn, across the entire galaxy if need be!”

The Battle Brothers intoned “By the will of the Emperor we will cleanse the galaxy of these abominations.  May the Lion protect and watch over us.”

“Brother Alacanon, join me on the Venerable Battle Barge Lions Light.  Bring your command staff.”

Alacanon nodded to Sariel, Lucian and the newest arrivals, Captain Valaris of the Deathwing detachment and Codicer Vincent.  He spoke to the ranks of Marines formed up to honor Gabriel, “Make yourselves ready for combat.  Dismissed.”  The he and the staff boarded Gabriel’s Thunderhawk.

Once aboard the Battle Barge there were hours of reports on the various sightings and captures over the last several months.  A pattern was emerging.  The Amicus Cluster had been the center of operations for several Fallen, some aligned with Chaos and some on their own.  It was apparent that many have found the remoteness of the cluster a benefit.  Now it looked they were scattering. 

Traces of several more Fallen were detected on worlds attacked by the Necron fleet operating in this sector.  Whether or not they escaped is unknown. 

Gabriel pointed out that messages intercepted from other Chapters, Inquisition teams and an Adeptus Mechanicus explorer force show a pattern of activity developing along the rim.  There were rumors of a new Hive fleet entering the galaxy in this area.  It was surmised that they may use that as cover for whatever they were planning.

As the counsel broke up Gabriel pulled Alacanon aside.

“I have need of your forces again Brother Alacanon.”  Gabriel said.  “When interrogated the Eldar you engaged have revealed that they had intelligence on a Fallen.  Fallen 389 is now known to be working with these Xenos scum as late as a week ago.  As to why they would us him, or he them, is not known.  But whatever he is up to it has to stop.”

“Their fleet has withdrawn to a planet in the Isis system.  Take your Strike force and engage them.  Find the Fallen and return him to us.  The other interrogations have not provided anything useful yet.  Perhaps you will have more success.”

“I shall not fail you Brother,” Alacanon said.

Chapter 2

Taskforce Resolution slipped out of the warp and formed up.  Augers revealed that the Xenos cruiser was near the fourth planet.  At maximum burn the group would arrive in 6 hours.  That was too long.

“Alacanon to all ships.  Maximum speed to the planet.  Hunter Squadron, Nova squadron, drive that Xeno cruiser away from the planet.  We will follow up your attack.”

Seeing the amount of firepower available to the intruding force the Eldar cruiser decided to withdraw toward the outer system.

Orbital surveys determined the Eldar were gathering near a ruined industrial facility on one of the smaller continents.  They were converging on the ruins from the south from different parts of the continent.  Most of the main population of the planet was clustered on the largest continent and it appeared that the Eldar weren’t interested in them.  Simple pirates, thought Alacanon.

He turned to an attendant standing ready near him, “Have Sergeant’s Nathan and Kensie report to me in the briefing room.”

“I want you two to go down ahead of the rest of the force and have a look at the site where the Eldar are gathering.  I do not know why they would be interested in our technology so it must be something else.  Report when you are in position.”

Veteran Sergeant Nathan and Veteran Sergeant Kensie turned and left the room.  As they walked down the corridor towards the Scouts quarters Nathan told Kensie “you lead the close combat Brothers, I’ll take the snipers and cover you.”

“That is acceptable.  Some of the new Brothers need some more experience in stealth.  This will be good training for them,” Kensie responded.

Veteran Sergeant Nathan and Veteran Sergeant Kensie selected their Brothers carefully.  Their job was to go down to the surface and establish a forward position.  Nathan opted to take the snipers so Kensie took command of the close combat scout team.  They gathered them in the flight deck and began their briefing.

Nathan spoke first.  “Brothers, today we are facing the Eldar.  They are a tricky and potent foe.  We will penetrate their lines and observe what they find so interesting in one of the Imperial factories down there.  The Eldar are not known to be interested in Imperial technology so this is unusual.”

Kensie spoke next.  “Once the battle is joined we will infiltrate into the site and have a look for ourselves.  Then we will hold until relieved.”

“To the ship.  May the lion and the Emperor watch over us.”

The two groups filed into the already powered up Thunderhawk.  Nathan picked up his sniper rifle and slapped Kensie on the back.  “Let’s go my friend.”

On the planet the Eldar commanders gathered their force commanders together.  They looked over the forces assembled.  He knew the Monkie were on heir way here, the Cruiser had informed them of their plans before they left orbit.  The two strike forces had gathered many different aspects together for maximum effect on this mission.  He spoke to the various Exarchs present, “You know our mission here.  You know that the Monkie are coming and that we need to delay them until the search is finished.  Spread your forces out and engage them.”

Several squads of Rangers were deployed on the flanks of the site.  A squad of Guardians with a brightlance deployed behind the Rangers furthest left.  Two Wraith Lords and 2 squads of wraith guard deployed near the second Ranger group.  A squad of Striking Scorpions with their Exarch deployed behind the abandoned factory.  A lone Fireprism Tank held the extreme left.

A small stream flowed from one side of the valley to the other.  The Seer’s knew that this would not delay their forces in the hovercraft but it would hamper the Monkie, dividing their forces.

The second commander deployed a force of several types of warriors in Falcons near the main objective.  He too had Guardian Lords, these covering the flanks of his forces.  A varied group of Grav tanks covered the far left of the Eldar line.  Several of the warriors had Grav platforms supporting heavy weapons. 

He Eldar commanders were confidant of victory.

Chapter 3

Aboard the Praetorian of Caliban.

“Brother-Master Alacanon, another ship is hailing us.  It is the Hand of Thor, an Imperial Lightning Strike cruiser.” Captain Martin gestures toward the pixcaster.  “Shall I put him on screen lord?”

Alacanon turned from his conversation with Captain Valaris and looked to the screen.  “Go ahead Captain.”

The face of Commander Moss of the Imperial Lightning filled the screen.  “Brother Alacanon of the Dark Angels, it is good to see you again.  What brings you to this insignificant planet?”

“Brother Moss, as you know, our business is our own.  May I ask the same question of you?”

“Brother Alacanon, though it is no concern of yours, we pursue these Xenos pirates.  My plan is to go down to the planet and eradicate this menace.”

“Brother Moss that is an excellent and well thought out plan.  I also plan to eradicate these Eldar.  Perhaps we should cooperate?”

“Ah, I knew you would say that Brother Alacanon.  As my force is small I would gladly accept your assistance.  My own force is preparing to approach from the northwest.  Perhaps you should approach from the northeast?”

“That very thought crossed my mind.  We shall head down to the surface at once.  Alacanon out.”

Sergeant Nathan saw the Eldar deploying on a wide frontage.  It looked like they were hoping to envelope the factory and cover all sides of it.  Sergeant Kensie moved up behind him in the small patch of woods.  “It looks like they mean business.  Do you think He is in there,” asked Kensie.

“I would guess that He is.  Master Alacanon is 5 minutes away.  You deploy you men so you can get into the place, I’ll cover you.”  With that the two parted company.

Sergeant Kensie and his scouts crept to the edge of the sparse cover and waited for the signal from Nathan.  He was 50 yards away from the outer wall.  He knew if they didn’t move quickly the Wraith Lords would tear them apart.

The men and machines of Taskforce Resolution rolled off of their Thunderhawks into a wide field.  The factory was barely visible over the mass of jungle.  This was as close as the pilots could get.

The Entombed Brothers Raguiel and Uriron strode down the ramps and marched near Alacanon.  Brother Raguiel swung his Lascannons around to get used to his new weaponry.  Brother Uriron flexed his combat arm and test fired his assault cannon.  Dora and Thor, the company’s Whirlwind battery, took up a position in the center.

Brother Alacanon took up his position with the second Tactical squad with Brother Sergeant Leonidas.  The Brothers hefted the missile launcher and meltagun and took their place near the stream.  Brother Raguiel stood to their right.

Sergeant Gannets and his 4^th Tactical squad took the center position.  Their heavy bolter and flamer would do good service against the lightly armed Eldar.  Behind them Thor and Dora rolled into firing position.  Brother Uriron stood to the left of the woods shielding Gannets.

Chaplain Sariel and Assault Squad Voloris took the extreme left behind the largest hill.  Brother Lucian and Sergeant Haphestan’s 5^th tactical squad took up a position between Voloris and Uriron.  They also carried the heavy bolter and flamer.

They advanced on this wide frontage for a few minutes, drawing the Eldar commander to their left.

The Marines got the first turn.

Nathan looked at the advancing line of Dark Angels.  “They will be here soon enough.  Commence firing.”

As one 7 Adamantium darts flew towards the unsuspecting Rangers.  These were followed up by a stream of bolter shells from the heavy bolter supporting Nathan.  Two of the hated Rangers fell. 

Kensie took this as the signal.  His men ran across the open space and half of them easily vaulted the wall.  He saw some Eldar, striking scorpions sitting on the other side.  This was not going to be easy.

Thor and Dora continued to move to get the factory in range.  All the Brothers advanced, with Voloris and his squad passing behind Uriron.

Brother Lucian raised his force sword as warp energy gathered around him.  The construct, this one formed as Chaos Daemon, leapt from the end of the blade and crashed into the Rangers, the Fireprism tank and the guardians behind them.  A Ranger was torn apart by the claws of the warp daemon, 2 Guardians went down to the claws as it passed over the tank harmlessly.  An evil grin crossed Lucian’s face.

The Imperial Lightning continued with the luck of the Emperor.  Their Predator Annihilator and Whirlwind struck with amazing accuracy, downing a Wave Serpent raining rocket down on a Guardian squad.  The rest advanced.

The Eldar responded with a volley of fire from most of their units.  Brother Uriron took a direct hit from a Prism Cannon and fell smoking.  Brother Nathan’s snipers took two hits from the Rangers.  Brother Kensie’s scouts took two hits from the Wraith Lords.  The cover was blessed by the Emperor.

On the other flank the Emperor’s hand deflected many of the Eldar’s shots.  Commander Moss showed his favor with the Emperor as brightlances and star cannons bounced harmlessly off of armor.

Alacanon pressed forward.  He knew that his Angels had the advantage over the Eldar in close quarters.  Brother Lucian rush behind the still smoldering hulk of Uriron before launching another entity of the warp.  This one crashed into the Striking Scorpions with little effect then hit the Wraith Guard behind them, again to no effect.

Sariel and his men jumped behind Gannets squad and took cover behind the jungle.  They prepared to engage which ever flank was threatened.  The Eldar on the far left were left with little to shoot at.

Nathan’s men turned their attention to the Wraith Guard advancing towards the factory.  They achieved many hits but to no effect.  Those things had thick hides.

Kensie drove his men deep into the ruined factory.  Now safe from most the Eldar fire they could concentrate on what He was doing here.

Dora and Thor fired their first volley, hitting the Striking Scorpions.  The heavy cover of the old rockcrete gave them enough cover to survive the barrage unscathed.  The Wraith guard behind them was not as lucky and was forced to take cover.

The Imperial Lightning continued to fight with the blessings of the Emperor.  A pair of Vypers went down to accurate Lascannon fire from the Predator.  The lone Whirlwind damaged several Guardians.  Devastators and supporting Tactical squads poured withering fire into the other Guardian squads.  Two squads pressed forward into the factory, followed closely by an Assault Marine squad.

The commander of the Imperial Lightning was incredible!  If there had been 3 Vypers he would have killed them!

On the Eldar turn the commander drove 3 Falcons into firing position, determined to destroy the Predator.  They managed to stun it.  He maneuvered several brightlances into firing positions. The Predator shrugged off the shots easily.  A few losses were inflicted, mostly the destruction of the scout squad.

On the Dark Angels front Brother Alacanon with Leonidas’ and Gannet’s rushed into the factory behind Kensie’s scouts.  Chaplain Sariel with Voloris and Lucian with Haphestan’s Marines moved into position behind the woods behind Nathan.  Lucian unleashed the warp daemon again, to no effect.

Kensie and his men unloaded a volley into the Xenos scum and charged.  The scouts were barely up to the task.  Mandiblasters and swords cut them to pieces.  But Kensie’s power sword found its mark over and over, downing 4 of the Scorpions.  The 2 squads ended deadlocked.  Nathan focused his fire on the Wraith guard again, downing one of them.  Thor and Dora swung their turrets toward the Rangers landing several projectiles among them and the Guardians behind them.  The Guardians failed their leadership and cowered in the woods.

The Eldar swung the Prism tank around some trees and incinerated Dora in a spectacular explosion.  A brightlance tried to hit Thor but the trees deflected it.  The Wraith Lords strode into the field of fire of Raguiel and fired their star cannons into Leonidas and his men, causing 1 brother to fall.  The Wraith guard advanced to support the Scorpions in the Factory. 

The fight in the ruins was down to 1 Scorpion and the Exarch against Kensie and his one Scout.  Both sides fought to no effect.  Kensie’s armor was battered from several close hits.  Nathan saw the fight but could do nothing.  Accurate fire from 2 squads of Rangers cut him down to himself and the heavy bolter.

On the other flank a group of Warp spiders charged into the lead Imperial Lightning squad, and were shown the justice of the Emperor.  Heavy casualties ensued, on the Warp spiders!

The Eldar blasted at the Predator.  It seemed to disappear in a cloud of bolts and lances of energy.  But when it cleared the Predator stood, main gun twisted and mangled but otherwise ready for more of the fight. 

The Eldar commander was furious!

Brother Raguiel fired into the Wraith guard but the guidance of the Emperor was not with him.  Sariel and Voloris’ Assault squad moved to support the troops in the ruins.  Alacanon moved squad Leonidas into charge position and Garret to cover them.  Nathan poured fire into the Rangers, inflicting 3 causalities.  Thor continued to fire on the Guardians, causing 2 more losses and more confusion.

Alacanon led the charge into the Scorpions.  Their counter attacks deflected harmlessly off of his armor.  Alacanon powered the Sword of Reverence and carved into the scorpions.  None survived his attack.  Squad Leonidas consolidated into a position to resist the Wraith Lords, missile launcher and meltagun at the ready.

Here the battle paused.

Chapter 4

The Eldar revealed one of their deadliest weapons, the Avatar of Khaine, as it waded through the debris.  It saw the first line Imperial Lightning Marines and charged into them, it’s wailing doom cutting wide swaths through them.  The Marines flailed uselessly at it, their blows being deflected easily.  The Eldar Seer threw himself and his bodyguard into the fight as well, and in seconds the entire squad was destroyed.  The Eldar intensified his fire on the rest of the squads as he closed into star cannon range.  At least 6 more Marines fell that turn.

On the Dark Angel side of the factory things were not going as well as hoped.  The Guardians maneuvered their brightlance into a spot were the cover was thin and punched through Thor’s armor, igniting the ammunition and the jungle surrounding it.   The Wraith lords tore into squad Voloris and dropped 2 Brothers with starcannons.

But, to the amazement of Squad Leonidas and Master Alacanon the Wraith guard fell back.  Fear of the Sword of Vengeance!  The superior numbers of Marines pouring into the ruins may have had an influence as well.

Alacanon looked back to the Brothers pressing into the ruins behind him.  He already had the Eldar greatly outnumbered.  It was time to fulfill the real mission.

He signaled to Sergeant Kensie who ran up the stairs to his right.  Alacanon moved into the gloom ahead.  Kensie whispered in his vox, ”He is directly below me Brother-Master, I am linking my auspex to your viewer now.”

Alacanon saw the blinking red dot not 10 meters from him.

Outside Brother Raguiel continued to fire on the Wraith lords but could only scatter shots around them.  Lucian and the Brothers of squad Haphestan were pinned down behind Brother Raguiel by the intense starcannon fire from the Wraith lords and the fore from the Rangers.  Lucian sent another warp entity into the Rangers, killing 2 more.  They prepared to rush the ruins.

The other squads found the footing in the ruins to be tough going.  They began to spread out to take the next Eldar assault and cover the river flank of the Imperial Lightning.  The Assault Marines found their jump packs too dangerous to use and moved in on foot.

The Imperial Lightning Commander poured more squads into the ruins.  His own assault squad hit the Avatar with everything they had and managed to scratch it.  Then the Dreadnaught rushed forward to engage it.  The Avatar swung its wailing doom but the entombed Brother had fought Avatars before and easily deflected all but one blow, which he managed to shrug off.  Then the close combat weapon powered into the body of the Avatar and wrenched it’s still beating heart out.  He crushed it as the Avatar fell to its knees, amazed.

The Eldar commanders saw the tide was turning, and not their way.  More Guardian squads rushed into the ruins to back up the Wraith guard.  One managed a lucky shot with its cannon on the Dreadnaught and it exploded.  The Falcons pressed their attack on the Predator but could not get through its armor.  More weapons platforms rushed to the aid of the Falcons but could not hit it either.  The entire ruins were now teeming with Eldar and Marines.

On the Dark Angels flank the Wraith lords moved to cover in an effort to engage the Brothers in hand to hand.  They fell short.  Some of the Wraith guard moved into position to attack Brother Raguiel.  They were just out of range.  The Fireprism tank roared over the jungle and fired at Brother Raguiel, but missed him.  The Emperor’s hand was on the Angels then.

The Guardians on the left closed the range but could find no firing positions.  The Rangers, down to only 2, rushed forward to a hill for cover.  One of the Wraith lords fired into squad Haphestan and 2 more Brothers fell to starcannons.  It was getting hairy out there.

Vespasian, officially Fallen 389 in the Book of Salvation, heard footsteps above him.  The fire outside had died down.  “Damn Eldar” he thought, “always unreliable”.  He hefted his power sword and quietly chambered a round into his bolt pistol.

The Imperial Lightning forces swept into the Wraith guards and scattered their atoms to the wind.  They pressed forward into the Guardian squads and fired into them, but their cover held.  Another Falcon fell burning as the Predators remaining Lascannons penetrated it fuel cells.  The last squad charged into the ruins just ahead of a Wraith Lord.  It was getting ugly.

Vespasian looked to the ceiling once more, and then ran toward the door. 

Alacanon saw the icon on his view plate rushing towards him.  He raised his boot and drove it into the door.  The flimsy material splinter and flew into the room.  There, 2 meters away, stood his quarry.  Both swords ignited into brilliance almost as one, Alacanon’s bright green, Vespasians bloody red.  Vespasian swung first, a vicious undercut meant to disembowel.  Alacanon easily parried the blade.  Vespasian laughed and stepped back, “So, they still teach you well enough.”  Then he ran.

Kensie heard the fighting downstairs.  He rushed to the stairway and leapt over the rail.  He landed directly in front of the felling Vespasian.  Kensie turned and fired his bolt pistol directly into the face of the Fallen.  The round grazed his forehead and staggered him.  Then Kensie swung his power sword and severed Vespasian’s hand at the wrist.  The hand, still clutching the sword, fell to the floor.  Vespasian fell back onto Alacanon’s sword, which he drove through his gut.

Alacanon nodded to Kensie.  “It is done”.

Brother Raguiel pivoted to the left and tracked the Fireprism as it crested the trees.  Its fire furrowed the ground in front of him.  He loosed a salvo of missiles and then triggered the lascannons.  The lasers tore into the side of the tank and the missile impacted right behind them, gutting the engine.  The Tank dipped, caught a tree and spun out of control before it slammed into another tree.  A low, almost inaudible “for the Emperor, scum,” was heard over laughter.  The Wraith guard and Wraith lords took fire from all around them.  Streams of bolts, missiles, melta rays and Promethium incinerated them.

The Eldar fled the field.

Epilogue

Alacanon leaned against the wall and looked down on Fallen 389.  Sariel was preparing the preliminary interrogation, his first, before the Fallen was transferred to Brother Gabriel’s ship.  Lucian had assisted in interrogations before and knew he wasn’t needed, just yet.

Vespasian awoke to find the promised heavy chains holding him down to a piece of the Rock, Caliban, the very planet he had betrayed.  He saw the three members of the Deathwing present but ignoring him.  His hand had been bandaged and his other wounds healed.  He was, after all, a space Marine, or was once.

He saw that Alacanon was holding a book.  So they had found what he was searching for.  It would do them no good.  It was too late.

Lucian looked to him and said, “no scum, it is not.  We have already transmitted what we have learned, and we learn more every second.  Grandmaster Gabriel knows what we know.  And that means doom for you and you fellow scum.”

Vespasian closed his eyes.